Poloboy406

I have a 95 Cherokee manual trans that is not starting! I backed out of the driveway, it died, and now won't start. The starter is working, my gauges are not working. I have power from the battery.
I just replaced the cap, rotor and plugs a few days ago and it was running better than ever.
By the way, I'm stuck in about 15" of snow... Please help!

tjwalker

I heard about the snow in Seattle. It's -15 here in MN, but VERY little snow.

First thing I'd do is to verify your grounds. More on that below.

Are ALL of your gauges not working or just certain ones?

If only voltage gauge and or fuel gauge are not working, I would suspect a shorted "crankshaft position sensor". Without that signal going to the computer, you won't have spark and you won't have fuel going to the injectors. Losing those two gauges is not uncommon when the crank sensor fails in a certain manner.
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Grounds can be the root cause of many electrical gremlins. Refreshing grounds is NEVER a bad idea, and the investment of your time in this procedure is always well worth it!

You can't tell much of anything by looking at ground connections!! You must remove, scrape, clean until shiny the cable/wire ends and whatever they bolt to. Be sure to remove all paint from any ground connections.

Start with the one on the back corner of the head, and where it attaches to the firewall, as it deteriorates over time and is an area that makes it susceptible to damage. Best to replace that woven cable with a #4 or #2 gauge cable. You can attach the one end to the intake manifold if you would like.

Next go over to the engine dipstick tube stud. Remove the nut and clean the wire ends and scrape the block until shiny at the stud. Reattach tightly.

If you are so inclined, add at least a #6 cable from the negative terminal of your battery to one of the bolts on your radiator support.

Poloboy406

Looks like I gotta update my location! I'm in Missoula, MT now, but my family in Seattle tells me that the snow there is insane!

My fuel gauge is working. All others are not.

I had it running, so before I check grounds, should I get a new CPS?

tjwalker

Nope, other way around. Freshen grounds. Simple stuff first; always. The crank sensor can be tested, but testing "may" not be 100%
conclusive.

And as you replaced that cap and rotor a few days ago, double check your work and wire connections. A loose cap would not be good.